Tieths to william j



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

M. M. SCOTT. LEATHER GRAINING AND SOFTENING MACHINE.

No. 552,857. Patented Jan. 7, 1896,

:1 x O O E 3/ Y5 fifaz%Z02z 0205!. 7W

HEW B GRAMAHPHOTO-LI'I'HDWASNINGTUKDC.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. M. SCOTT. LEATHER GRAINING AND SOFTENING MACHINE. No. 552,857.Patented Jan. 7, 1896.

% zt72esses: fyzw z far W fi UNITED STATES PATENT I FFICEE.

MAHLON M. SCOTT, OF NEXVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF NINE-TXVEN- TIETHSTO W'ILLIAM J. VAN VORST, OF SAME PLACE.

LEATHER GRAINING AND SOFTEN ING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,857, dated January7, 1896.

Application filed July 27, 1895. Serial No. 567,299. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAHLON M. SCOTT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Machine for Graining and Softening Leather, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for graining andsoftening leather, and the objects of my improvements are to provide anaccurately adjustable table for holding the work, means for supportingand maintaining accuracy in adjustment between the roller and said tableand keeping the distance between the two exactly uniform over the entireplane of its travel, and a further improvement consists in the generaleflic iency in the machine as a whole.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a partthereof, Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of the complete machine.Fig. 2 is a View showing the end elevation of the same, having a portionof the roller broken away in order to more fully illustrate thesurrounding mechanism of the interior of the roller. Fig. 3 is adetached View of a portion of the table, showing the slide Y adapted toclamp and hold the leather in place during the process of operation.Fig. at is an enlarged detached View of the rollersupporting sleeve andadjacent mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side View of the same. Fig. 6 is adetached View showing the form and position of the leather at itsstarting-point; and Fig. 7 is a View of the same, showing the leather inposition at almost the finishingpoint.

A is the general supporting framework, constructed of heaty wood or ironor a combination of both, if desired.

Bis the adjustable table upon which the leather to be operated upon isplaced. This may be made of wood, iron or marble having an accurateplane surface upon its upper or working side.

O is the roller, divided transversely and centrally into two sectionswhich are rigidly secured to its shaft.

1) D are the spungeared crank-wheels.

E E are the spur-geared wheels meshing with the wheels D D.

F F are the connecting-rods.

H H are worm-gearings in engagement with segmental eccentrics I I. J isthe handwheel for adjusting the height of the table by means of saideccentrics. K K are the rods to which said eccentrics are secured.

U U are the racks, situated one on each side of the machine and thepinions T 'l engaged therewith.

X X are the shafts to which the worm-gearings are secured.

L L are sliding blocks which support the shaft and roller 0.

MM are semielliptical supports secured to 6 5 the framework and supportthe track or rail N, upon which the small roller 0 travels. This smallroller 0 is connected to the sleeve W on the roller-shaft by means ofmetal plate R, rod Q and turnbuckle P.

S is the pulley whereby motion is transmitted by the power-belt Z.

Y is the sliding end piece which operates to clamp the leather inposition when in process of operation.

It will be observed that the mechanism is an exact duplication of partson each longitudinal vertical half of the machine withthe exception ofthe driving-pulley S, its belt Z, the hand-wheel J and roller-adjustingmech- So anism N, O, P, Q, R and XX -that is to say, the mechanism oneach side is a counterpart of that on the opposite side with theexception of the parts just specified.

S is the power-pulley to which motion is 8 5 transmitted by an ordianarybelt Z. (Shown. by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2.) The said pulley isrigidly secured to its shaft, the latter being mounted in boxes upon theframe of the machine. On each end of said shaft is 90 a pinion E. Theseengage with the crankwheels D D. Said crank-wheels D D carry thecrank-arms or connectingrods F F. The shaft of the roller 0 is carriedand supported by sliding blocks L L, which have V-shaped 95 ribs trackedin corresponding guides extend ing lengthwise with the frame, somewhatsimilar to an ordinary steam-engine connecting-rod and guide. Upon eachend of the shaft of the main roller 0 is secured a spurgeared pinionengaging with the toothed rack U. This is mostclearlyseen in Fig. 1.Power being applied to the pulley S, the result is a traveling motionforward and backward of the roller 0, which at the same time has a slowrevolving motion by means of the rack-andpinion mechanism justmentioned. This is sufficiently clear without further note.

Bis the work-holding table upon which the leather is laid and is carriedfrom one end of said. table to the other in loop or folded form by theroller C. The said table is provided at its forward end with a slidingclamping-board Y, which holds the leather in place while under theoperation of graining or softening. (Seen in detail in Fig. 3.) The saidtable 13 is capable of an. up and down or vertical adjustment by meansof four eccentrics, one placed underneath and near each corner of thetable. Turning the hand-wheel J will raise or lower the table to alimited degree, as will be apparent without further explanation. Theroller 0, in addition to its shaft-support in the sliding blocks L L,has a supplemental and additional support at its central or middledivision. This is attained as follows: A curved frame M on each end ofthe general framework supports a track or rail N. A small roller 0 isconnected by means of a rod Q, turnbuckle P and sheet-metal piece R to asleeve XV. This sleeve XV fits snugly but freely on the shaft of theroller 0. Limited adjustment is obtained vertically by turning thebuckle P, as will be understood. The roller 0, in two divisions, mustnecessarily have but a very slight opening at its divided part. In otherwords the roller as a matter of practice must be, in effect,substantially equivalent to an integral continuous roller. In order thatthis may be obtained the thin sheet-metal piece R is employed as givingthe desired strength and permitting the said divided roller 0 to haveits contiguous ends almost in contact. The reciprocating motion of theroller carries with it the pulley 0, through the intermediateconnecting-rod along the elevated track N.

It is important that an accurate and uni form distance shall bemaintained between the face of the roller and the underlying table uponwhich the work is placed. This c011- struction permits of suchadjustment and maintenance of uniformity at such set distance. The saiddistance is usually one-eighth to a quarter of an inch, depending uponthe double thickness of the leather to be operated upon.

The operation is as follows: The slide Y is withdrawn, the leather isplaced upon the table at about its middle part, one end hanging downover the forward end of the table. The slide Y is then replaced and theleather drawn over said slide, both ends hanging down, as seen in Fig.6. The initial point of work begins immediately over the leather at andabove its fold over the slide Y. The fold or loop in the leather is thendrawn over the table B by means of the roller 0, which, it will beunderstood, is revolving in the direction of its travel. The loop orfold of the leather is carried slightly in advance of the center of thesaid roller until the extreme end of the leather is reached. (See Figs.0 and 7.) An important feature in this machine is the relativecircumference of the roller 0 to the distance of travel or reciprocationof the said roller. The circumferenee should be slightly greater thanthe distance of reciprocation which causes one full revolution of theroller. For instance, if the roller 0 is a foot in diameter, and thecircumference therefore 3.14:16-ifeet, then the distance ofreciprocation or travel of the roller should be slightly less than threefeet. The object of this is to take up any slack or lost motion of theleather while in the process of operation. The said roller should alsomake approximately 2.43 revolutions to one revolution of thecrank-wheel. As a matter of practice I employ a roller about ten inchesin diameter. As the roller starts upon the leather the loop or fold isalmost directly under the axis of the roller. Toward thefinishing-points the loop has gained somewhat and is in advance of theroller, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7. This takes place by reason of thediameter of the roller being somewhat larger than the diameter of thepinion T, which engages with the rack U. In speaking of the diameter ofthe pinion T, the pitch diameter is meant. It may also be noted that asa matter of practice there should be about two full revolutions of theroller in order to grain or soften an ordinary cowhide. The operationbeing complete on one-half of the hide, the remaining half heretoforeuntouched is subjected to the same process in like manner as heretoforedescribed.

I claim- 1. A leather graining and softening machine comprising theframe work A, gear wheels E and D, rack and pinion O and U, slidingblocks L L, table B, adjustable by means of segmental eccentrics I I,and connecting rods F F roller adj usting mechanism comprising thesupported track N, the traveling roller O,rod Q,turn buckle P, sheetmetal connecting piece R and sleeve WV, all arranged substantially asdescribed and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a leather graining and softening machine a supplemental rollersupport comprising a sleeve XV upon the shaft of the roller, a

sheet metal piece R, a rod Q, a turnbuckle P, z

a roller 0, an elevated track or rail N and supporting curved beams M M,substantially as described.

3. A leather graining and softening machine comprising a generalsupporting frame Work in combination with spur Wheels E E In testimonythat I claim the invention as and D D, connecting rods F F, slidingblocks above set forth I herewith afiiX my signature 10 L L, dividedroller 0, sleeve \V on shaft of in presence of two Witnesses.

said roller, sheet metal piece R, rod Q, turn- 5 buckle P, elevatedtrack N, roller 0, table B, MAI'ILON M. SCOTT.

sliding'piece Y, segmental eccentrics I Lworm \Vitnesses mechanism IIII, and hand wheel J all ar- VINCENT S. DENNIssON, ranged substantiallyas shown and described. I ANPHEAR II. SCOTT.

